Chapter 4: Wall Market Blues

Cloud sped past the Sector 5 slums. The lights in the small stores were out, and houses had been closed up for the night. Stray dogs and cats roamed the streets, along with the occasional toxin spitting Whole Eaters that preyed on the small and scraggly of the slums. A few approached Cloud, waving their massive teeth that were jammed into their gaping mouths; the things had no heads at all, just wide open mouths. A few well placed bolts of lightning snuffed any dinner plans they might have had though.

After stumbling through the slums under the perpetual darkness of the rotting pizza far above, Cloud found the entrance that led to the road to Sector 7. The road had undergone both major construction and a small earthquake, and combined with the explosions of the gas lines under the ground,the road was just about ripped upto complete uselessness. Still, he had to make it back in time before the others got too worried.

"Boy, you're up awfully early," Aerith said, her voice lined with poison. Cloud jumped back when he saw her emerge from the crack in the wall that led to the road. Shaking his head, he continued to back up a bit until an ivory pillar stopped him from going any farther backwards. "How could I ask to take you along when I knew it would be dangerous?" he asked, shrugging.

Aerith folder her arms in front of her chest and sighed. "Are you done yet?" she snapped. Cloud blinked and started to say something, but Aerith turned her back on him. "Sector 7 is this way. Follow me." Unusually cold, she ran off and left Cloud to follow behind.


At the Seventh Heaven, Tifa paced nervously behind the bar while the rest of AVALANCHE steadily grew more nervous themselves watching Tifa worry. After nearly two hours of silent waiting, Barret had had just about all he could take. "Dammit! Y'all just quit worryin' about Cloud! The guy was in SOLDIER, remember? Shinra's elite! He'll come back, prob'ly with nothin' hurt besides his pride!"

AVALANCHE seemed to cool down after that, except for Tifa. Her worried silence was only broken by the saloon doors swinging open and letting in a skinny dark guy with a bright shock ofblonde hair styled up in a sharp mohawk that ran from his forehead to the back of his neck. He placed himself firmly at a barstool one space away from Barret and drummed his fingers on the table, looking around with a grin.

"Wassup to my crew, huh?" he announced to the near-empty bar. "Okay girl, get those sweet sticks of yours movin' and get Kotch here a little drink, hmm?" Laughing, he spun around in the stool and came face to face with Barret. The big man was almost touching noses with Kotch, who took one look at the scowling face and made a choked yelp.

Picking Kotch up by the back of his tattered jacket, Barret lifted him off the stool and carried him to the door. "You got exactly fourteen seconds to tell me what the hell your problem is, pal!" he shouted in Kotch's face. Cowering, Kotch squirmed a bit until Barret dropped him back on the floor. "D...Don Corneo, man," he said shakily. "He's just lookin' for a bride, that's all! I swear it!" He turned Barrett aside and bent him down to whisper something in his ear. "And I'll tell you what, that fine work of art behind the bar there could make you a very rich man. 'Course I can't say too much for the one in kevlar...but you gotta take what you can get, right?"

Barret took a step back and looked like he was considering the offer, but spun Kotch around to face the doors and planted a solid boot in his back, sending the small man tumbling down the front stairs. Just as he got to his feet, though, Barret popped out and opened fire. Kotch screamed again and scurried for cover, finding refuge only in the exit to Sector 6. "An' don't come back ya scraggly little ass-kissin' bottom feedin' shit!" Barret roared into the empty night.

Back inside, the rest of the team looked in awe as Barret stomped back in. "...what're you all lookin' at!" he shouted. "Y'all look like a buncha damn carp!"

"Barret, don't you remember Don Corneo?" Biggs asked, standing up. "He's one of the Shinra front-men. He gets all of his funding from them in exchange for other services." Barret's face went pale as he spun around and looked outside.

Jessie shook her head and sighed. "No good, Barret, he's gone and not coming back. Not after the beating you gave him." Barret grumbled something about how the little jerk had it coming to him.

Tifa came out from behind the bar and cleared her throat. When all eyes were on her, she almost lost her voice, but harrumphed again and blinked. "Maybe there's still a chance to find out what Corneo's up to," she said. "It'll be dangerous, though, and it's my idea, so I should go."

"What've you got in mind?" Barret asked. Tifa smirked and planted a fist on one of her shapely hips.

"Operation: Allure," she said.


"Wow...I can't believe it's still here," Aerith said. She leaned on the rusty chain fence and gazed happily into the small, dirty playground that lay at the gates to Sector 7. The small swing set was rusted almost completely solid and creaked noisily in the slight breeze that drifted from the cracks in between the plates far above. The slides, shaped like giant cuddly hamsters, hung their long tongues out to let the kids out that once crawled up through the other side. Charming, Cloud thought with a smirk.

Aerith jumped up onto the tallest blue slide and planted herself at the top of the ladder. "Cloud! Come on up here!" she shouted. Shrugging, Cloud jumped up the front of the slide and sat at the edge of the slippery ramp.

The two of them sat like that for a few minutes, silent and anxious. When Aerith spoke, Cloud jumped. "What rank were you?" she asked suddenly. After pushing his heart back down into his chest, Cloud gave Aerith a blank stare. "Rank?"

"You know, in SOLDIER!" she said, grinning. Cloud's head started throbbing again, and he blinked back a sharp red haze. "Oh, I was...whoami...First Class."

Aerith's smile slowly dropped from her face, and she rested her chin on her knees. "Funny...that's the same as him." Cloud just gave her a blank stare. Without looking at him, she knew that he was going to ask. "I mean my first boyfriend," she said, a bit of her smile returning.

"You...were serious?" Cloud asked. Aerith shook her head and looked up. More than once, she wished the sun would shine down here more often. "Not really," she muttered. "But I liked him a lot. He went on a mission a few years ago and never came back. He was a real ladies' man, though...it wouldn't surprise me to find out he had found another girl."

Cloud simply nodded and gazed into her sparkling green eyes. But her thoughts were elsewhere, he could tell that just by looking at her. It wasn't until a Whole Eater scampered across a pile of rubble that he realized he had been staring at her for the past five minutes without saying a word. "Uh...what was his name? I probably knew him," he stammered.

"It really doesn't matter," Aerith answered with a sigh.

Before Cloud could say anything else, though, the huge gates to Sector 7 creaked and swung wide open, revealing a ghastly-colored Chocobo cart. As it wheeled through the playground on its way to Wall Market, Cloud saw a girl riding in back dressed in little more than a short electric blue skirt and a thin top complete with a satin bow around the neck. It was her huge brown eyes, though, that caught his attention. They locked gazes for a second, and Cloud jumped up in a flash.

"Tifa!" he shouted, but the cart was gone. He barely managed to grab onto a steel pole next to the long slide before tumbling down. "That was Tifa?" Aerith asked, standing up. She slid down the slide and started off after the cart. Cloud watched her go for a minute, then let go of the pole and jumped to the concrete.

"Wait, I'll go after her!" he called Aerith. "You've got to...go home..." He trailed off when he realized that she wasn't going to listen to him either way. Sighing, he took off after her...and hoped for the best.


The Wall Market of Sector 6 was supposed to be the only place in Midgar where anything was possible and everything was available. Judging from all the salesman hawking everything from broken-down guns to used materia, Cloud thought that all the rumors might be right. He bumped past pushy barkers, stray animals, and bouncy young women handing out fliers for the local Honeybee Inn.

"Hey, man! Stay here, stay here! We got the best rooms all lined up..."

"Yo, kid...! You look like the smart type. C'mere and take a look at this..."

"Never will you find such a magnificent..ah...it's...well, whatever it is, it's rare and cheap!"

"Where have you been all my life? A sweet girl needs a big, strong man to be with, you know..."

Cloud scowled and muttered some nasty things under his breath. He began to wonder how Wall Market was so insanely popular if it was so irritatingly crowded at the same time. How was he going to find Aerith in all this mess?

It was then that he saw Aerith shouting at some street vendor over a bag of blue vials. Throwing a fistful of money at him, she stomped over to Cloud and began packing the vials into his backpack. "I hate that guy," she grumbled, jamming another vial into Cloud's pack. "He always shoots his prices up because he knows that I'm almost the only person who'll come by and get anything from him because he knows how much I can't stand to see him broke!" Each vial was thrown in harder than the last, until finally she made Cloud lose his balance and tip over backwards. As the ex-SOLDIER went crashing into a pile of boxes, Aerith stood in the street and folded her arms across her chest. "Sometimes I could just swat him," she said hatefully.

"Cloud, what on earth are you doing?" she asked, turning to face him. Cloud pushed a box off his chest and smiled bitterly. "Taking a nap," he snapped.

Aerith sighed and helped him to his feet. "I hope traveling with you in the future isn't nearly as exasperating," she said.

...the future? Cloud swallowed hard.

"Anyway, we should try and find Tifa now," Aerith said, looking around. "But where could she have gone?"

"You said...Tifa? somebody said behind Cloud. Turning around, the ex-SOLDIER saw a short, chunky guy in a bright red uniform. The Honeybee Inn logo was stitched onto his dark crimson vest, and Cloud began to wonder how he had heard of Tifa. "We just got a new girl in today named Tifa," the man said, grinning. "You're pretty good at attracting the ladies, I see."

Aerith scowled and spun around, mumbling.

Shrugging, the man poked a finger into Cloud's ribs. "You wanna see her, kid? She's at the Don's getting an interview." Cloud pushed the finger away and stared at the man blankly. "What's that look for...? Don Corneo's the most powerful man in Wall Market. In fact, the reason he's looking at so many girls now is because he's lookin' for a bride...or so I hear."

"A bride!" Cloud shouted, his heart flying up into his throat. The entire market seemed to turn their gaze toward him and stare in wonder. Cloud blinked and looked around at all the attention he had suddenly gotten and pulled the short man into an alley. "Look, are you sure about all this?"

"Sure as my reputation!" the man said, puffing up his chest. "If you wanna see her again you'd better work fast. That girl's quite the looker."

Cloud's weak knees buckled, and he dropped to the dirt. Aerith knelt down next to the distraught ex-SOLDIER and smiled warmly. "Come on...there's got to be some good reason she'd do this, right?" she asked. Cloud simply groaned and buried his face in his hands.

Sighing, Aerith stood back up and tugged on Cloud's arm. "Let's go, then! If you're so worried about her, then why not make a daring rescue?"

Cloud looked up. A daring rescue...? He wasn't any hero. Besides, it'd be hard to get in there, being a guy. Still, they didn't have much choice. Nodding, the ex-SOLDIER sprang to his feet and pulled his huge sword off its magnetic locks. "You're right! he shouted, leaping into the crowd. Dozens of gasps and shouts at the crazed man with the massive sword flew from the market as Cloud tore a path through the crowd, rather, they tripped over themselves trying to get out of his way, towards Don Corneo's.

Corneo's mansion was at the end of Wall Market, just in front of the wall that led to Sector 7. Bright, flickering lanterns hung from the ceiling, yet the double doors stood unguarded. Cloud's boots thudded heavily against the packed dirt as he raced faster and faster towards the doors, gripping his sword until his knuckles cracked. At a good thirty feet from the door, Cloud sprang high into the air and raised his sword high above his head. He flew the entire distance and floated above the doors for a moments before tensing his powerful arms and reaching for every last bit of strength he had.

With a mighty roar, Cloud's keen blade flashed in the dim light. Preparing to knock the doors down, though, left him wide open, which is just what the huge bouncer who stepped from the shadows capitalized on. He lumbered into view just beneath Cloud and pushed a fist up in between Cloud's legs.

The ex-SOLDIER immediately dropped his sword and dropped to the ground in a heap at the big man's feet. "No guys inside Don's house 'cept for his co...kuh...pals," he said, twisting his big mouth around the word cohorts. He had heard Corneo say it so many times to him, he figured that's what he was, though he was never let inside. "So I'd better not catch you, a guy dat is, around here anymore makin' trouble for me, got that? Slowly whirling around, the tower of a man shuffled back into hiding.

Cloud could barely hear what the man had been saying through the sharp ringing that bounced through his head. Thought was painful, but he managed to keep from passing out completely. His stomach was doing back flips, while his legs felt like they were made of solid mythril. Aerith managed to push her way through the crowd that had gathered behind Cloud and drop to the ground next to him.

"Cloud...can you hear me? she snapped, shaking his shoulders. Cloud gasped for breath and slowly got to his knees, slightly hunched and coughing. Even though his head was still throbbing, he managed to nod and lean on a wall for support as he crawled back to his shaky feet. It hurt...oh, Lord above, it hurt...!

"I should have guessed that it wouldn't be that easy," Aerith said softly. "I'm sorry, this was all my fault." Cloud shook his head and coughed. Now that his legs were working again, he slowly righted himself and managed to stand up straight again. Taking stiff steps, he shuffled over to his discarded weapon and bent down to pick it up.

Lockinghis sword back in its magnetic locks, Cloud looked up at the mansion, then back down into the alley. He thought he saw a huge shadow lurch out of view, but he wasn't sure. Better safe than sorry, though. He wordlessly grabbed Aerith's slender arm and led her to the bar down the street.

Inside, the place was packed with people who were talking about Cloud's scuffle with the huge bodyguard in front of the Don's. Taking a seat close to the window, Cloud dropped his head onto the table and sighed. "It's no use trying to get past that big jerk,"he said shakily. "We've got to get in some other way."

Aerith nodded and looked around at the crowd. It seemed that lots of girls were hanging around two guys in the corner, and both ofthem were throwing around money like it was just simple paper. "Gather 'round, kids, 'cause Scotch is in the house...and on the house!" the first one said. A booming cheer filled the bar as glasses were dropped onto tables, waiting to be refilled. The second, who sported a brightblonde shock of hair, whispered in the first's ear. Scotch peered at Kotch over his huge shades and grinned. The both of them exploded into fits of insane laughter.

Aerith turned away once Kotch had pulled a giggly girl into his lap. She looked over at Cloud, who still had his head flat on the table. "I really am sorry about that, Cloud," she said softly. Cloud simply muttered something and began drumming his fingers on the table.

"Maybe if I took him by surprise..."

Aerith blinked, and her eyes lit up. "Cloud, I've got it!" she shouted, pulling the ex-SOLDIER to his feet. Despite sudden sounds of protest, Aerith hauled Cloud down a few blocks and pushed him into a small black door that smelled like perfume. When Cloud regained his balance, he looked around and saw...

"A dress shop?" he asked, turning around to see Aerith come in after him, grinning. "What are we doing here?"

"Cloud..." she muttered, giggling. "The only way for you to get in there..is to dress like a girl!" Cloud's glowing blue eyes shot up to the size of dinner plates, and his pale face flashed red. Aerith fell into his surprised arms, giggling and choking at the same time. Sniffing, she pushed off him and grabbed a bright purple dress off the rack. "Really, Cloud, it's the only way!"

Cloud shook his head and simply gaped at Aerith. He thought that if he got one more big shock today he's simply drop dead where he stood. "I think...purple really is your color!" she said, snickering. Cloud scowled.

"Hey, do you two want a dress?" the girl behind the counter asked. Both Cloud and Aerith turned to face the girl, who looked like she hadn't slept in days. "Well, you can't have any 'cause my dad makes all the dresses in the shop."

Aerith put the dress she was holding back onto the rack and leaned onto the counter. "And...why isn't he here?" she asked. The girl hung her head and sighed. "He's probably plastered at the bar. Again."

"So we can't get any dresses until we get him back? Aerith continued. The girl didn't look up, but gave a small shrug. After a minute or so, though, her eyes lit up and she looked up at both Cloud and Aerith with a wild expression. "Hey...you mean you'd actually get him back for me? Please, you've got to! This place'll go under if he's not here!"

Aerith smiled and nodded. "Of course we will!" She pushed Cloud back out into the streets, who quickly dug his heels into the ground and stopped all forward movement. He then spun around and grabbed Aerith by the wrists, setting them down at her side. "Aerith, are you sure about all this?" he asked.

She shrugged and started off for the bar. Cloud stood silent for a moment, then pushed his way through the crowd to catch up with her. "...there was some other way," he heard her finish saying. "It's only funny the first time I think about it. I know you won't like it, but your secret is safe with me." The ex-SOLDIER simply gave her a blank stare and opened the bar doors for her.

There, sitting in a far corner sat a man in a dark wool cap that was pulled down over his eyes. His shirt was stuck full of pins, and measuring tape stuck from his vest pocket. The crowd had thickened considerably, though, and getting across the room would be a problem. Aerith sighed and started off after the man, but Cloud grabbed her shoulder and hauled her back. "Hang on...I think I've got a better idea."

Aerith blinked.


Cloud made a flying leap off a chair onto the bar and whipped his sword from its locks. As soon as he hit the bar, somebody - namely Aerith - started screaming. "SOLDIERs! It's a raid!"

Every last eye turned to face Cloud, who held his huge sword out in front of him with an ugly scowl on his face. "All right, which one of you bottom-feeding slimes is gonna be first!" he shouted. From the back of the crowd, there came a small whoosh and a click. As if following a signal, almost every last patron in the bar reached inside coat pockets, sleeves, vests, or backpacks and pulled out a firearm of some kind. Each locked and loaded with a seemingly singular ka-chock, and Cloud felt the cold, hard stares of the gun-toting drunks all over him like ice water.

Cloud had just enough time to swallow and shrug before they opened fire on him. He immediately dropped back behind the bar as round after round emptied into the wall above him, shattering glass bottles and spraying alcohol everywhere. Plaster and booze flew all over Cloud as he hunkered down with a snarl, jumping as each bullet came close.

After what seemed like nearly five minutes, the shooting stopped. Cloud carefully looked around the edge of the bar to see dozens of people slowly putting their guns away through the thick haze of smoke that stung his eyes. Eventually, things settled down again, especially after the smoke cleared away. It was as if nothing had ever happened, except for the back wall suddenly exploding. Cloud began to wonder how many times this has happened if nobody else showed up.

Aerith then burst into view in front of him and kneeled down, pale and breathing hard. "Good Lord, Cloud, are you all right?" she gasped. Cloud looked back behind the bar for his sword, picked it up, and nodded. "I found the man we're looking for. Come on, he's not too far from here." Hauling Cloud to his feet, she pulled him through the crowd towards the back.

Aerith and Cloud finally made their way to the back corner of the bar, where the dress shop owner appeared to be down on his luck, sipping on a glass on whiskey. Aerith went up and tapped the man on the shoulder, startling him. "Excuse us sir, but are you the father of the girl at the Clothing Store?" she asked him.

The old man gave her a weird look. "I own the Clothing Store, but I ain't your father," his speech slurring and the smell of cheap whiskey seemed to Aerith like it was coming from every pore of his body. Cloud was beginning to get impatient with the old drunk.

"Make me some clothes," Cloud demanded from the old man.

The old man cocked his head towards Cloud. "I don't make men's clothes...and I don't feel like makin' anything right now anyway. So get lost and let me drink in peace."

Cloud began to turn around to head out of the bar, but Aerith put a hand on his shoulder. "Cloud, you wait over there for a second. I'll try and talk to him. In fact, why don't you go over there and have something to drink. You've had a rough day anyways."

Aerith sat down in the stool beside the old man. He didn't like that blonde, spikey headed punk, but this girl was like an angel walking on Earth. "You know, mister. He always said that just once, he'd like to dress up like a girl. So, that's why I wanted a cute dress for him." The old man snapped to attention at this revelation.

"What? A tough looking guy like that?" the old man still shocked by what he was being asked to do.

Aerith leaned forward towards the man. "So, how 'bout it? Will you make him one?"

The old man pondered this for a bit. He had been getting bored with work and had been working out his frustrations at the bar lately. Now, he was being offered a job that was just too interesting to pass up. Besides, how could he say no to such a pretty face.

"All right, I'll do it," the old man said as he stood up from the bar. "I'll get on it right away. Come by the shop later to pick it up." With that, the old man rushed out of the bar back to the Clothing Store.